On Sunday, I ran the Surftown Half Marathon for half marathon number 15!
If you have to run long, why not collect some bling, right? I’m so glad Kim got in touch with me about this race! It fit perfectly into my training plan, was an easy 1.5 hr drive from my house, and best of all gave me a chance to hang out with Kim for most of the weekend!
Pre-Race
On Saturday, after running a few errands in the morning and a trip to the acupuncturist to help keep my cranky TFL/quad calm, I made an uneventful drive down to Westerly, RI. Kim had booked a nice hotel (Pleasant View Inn) just a half-mile from the race start/finish and had checked in earlier. We spent some time catching up and then made the short walk to pick up our bibs and t-shirts. Later we hit the Providence Coal Fired Pizza for dinner – so good! And then it was back to the room to prep our race gear and wind down.
The nice thing about being so close to the race start was that we didn’t need to get up crazy early. We were up and out of the hotel by 7, and since I had extra mileage on my training plan, I headed off down one of the side streets for a quick out-and-back. I got a kick out of how many of the residents out collecting their morning paper or walking their dogs wished me good luck! I finished up my warm-up at the race start and found Kim and Darlene.
Nice bonus to finally meet Darlene!
We made a quick plan to meet Darlene post-race, and went to line-up
The Race
Miles 1-4
The first two miles were a fairly flat straight shot down Atlantic Avenue along the Misquamicut State Beach. As the course followed the coastline and then looped back towards Atlantic Ave there were some mild inclines. The miles clicked by pretty quickly.
Miles 5-8
Just after mile 6, there was the swap for the runners who were doing the half marathon relay. This actually gave me a nice boost because the runners jumping in for the 2nd half of the race had fresh legs so I picked a rabbit and worked to pick up my pace. As the course wound through streets of summer cottages, it continued to roll – none of the inclines were terribly steep, but they were continuous. Many people around me had started to walk, but I was still moving pretty well.
Miles 9-13.1
Around mile 9, I started to feel tired – I took a short walk break and then pressed on trying to hang with the general group I had been running “with”. There was an awesome volunteer just before the Mile 10 marker – she was a ball of energy and really trying to pump people up as we enjoyed a short downslope to the mile marker.
Then it happened… as I came around the bend one of the volunteers directing the runners shouted: “Just 3 miles to go – You just have to head up that hill!” Well, let me just say that it was some hill. It was a short, steep climb, and no one around me was running it. I power-walked it as fast as I could but I was shuffling when I reached the top.
After that, I couldn’t seem to find my rhythm again. The rolling continued but the wind was out of my sails and I was slowing down. At this point, I was also fighting a headache that reached a peak at mile 11 and decided to hang out through the end of the race. I tried to focus on the beautiful houses and ocean views along this part of the course and just kept pushing.
Soon the course turned back onto Atlantic Ave and the final stretch to the finish line!
I was happy to get to spend a little more time with Darlene after the race. Then Kim & I headed back to the hotel to get cleaned up and grab some lunch before heading out of town.
Final Thoughts
The race was well organized with great volunteers and course support! Despite the course being open to traffic, the roads were very quiet and well monitored. The race was definitely not the “fast and flat” course it was advertised to be, but the course was beautiful.
Given how cute the race medals are, the race shirts really left a lot to be desired.
Seriously, what color is that?! Last year’s shirt was a bright blue so what happened this year?!
Overall, this is a great race and definitely one worth checking out!
I am linking up with Kim and Zenaida for Tuesday Topics.
I’m so glad you decided to do this race! It was a blast catching up with you this weekend. Looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks in Chicago 🙂
Kim G recently posted…Tuesday Topics: Surftown Half Marathon Race Recap
I loved spending time with you! See you in Chicago!
OH, how fun!! (Well, all except for that big hill towards the end LOL). Still, every finish line is a victory…and it all worked out well with your training. Wish I could have bunked with you again (we could have planked!). And, I already have the blue Adrenalines, so there 😉
Kimberly Hatting recently posted…At-Home Workouts: Options Aplenty!
Yeah that hill was just so wrong! LOL!
We have to find another race to do together soon!
Well done on a good strong achievement. Cool medal but I agree about the shirts – not even a technical top?
Liz Dexter recently posted…Book review – Margaret Atwood – “The Handmaid’s Tale” @ViragoBooks
I know – I was a little surprised by the cotton shirt too!
It was interesting to read both your race recap and Kim’s. There were a lot of similarities but some differences. It sounds like a really good race. I know both of you did not like the shirt, but I kind of like it! My sister lives close to the race start. I might have to pay her a visit next year around this time and try this half. Too bad that hill at mile 10 kind of took the wind out of your sails. Sometimes a disruption like that near the end of a long race can really throw off my rhythm.
Laurie recently posted…Taking The Plank Out Of My Eye
This is definitely a race worth checking out! I would do it again.
I loved reading both your and Kim’s recap. Too bad that you got a headache mid race but you were able to power through so I call that a win. Plus you got to hang with Kim and Darlene so a perfect girls’ weekend. Love the medal but with you on the shirt it’s not so great.
Deborah Brooks recently posted…Step Into A September Reset
The headache was a bit of a bummer – still a little work to do on my fueling. But, the weekend was so much fun!
Sounds like a fun weekend. Why do there have to be hills? I saw that Kim didn’t like that shirt either…I actually kind of like it! Congrats on another successful half!
Wendy recently posted…My Social Media Dilemma
Ah hills…I ask myself that question all the time! 😉 Thankfully, Chicago will be fairly flat!
Great job on your race! Kudos for adding mileage before the race. I do love the medal but not the shirt.
Zenaida Arroyo recently posted…Tuesday Topics: How I stay fit with in-home workouts
Thanks Zenaida!
Very good job on your race. Glad you could meet Darlene and Kim on the race day.
A secret, but plese don’t share with my cat: when I get an ugly race t-shirt I use it for my cat’s bed.
Black Knight recently posted…September
I love that you use the race shirts for your cat’s bed! 🙂
So glad I met you. You are going to kill it in Chicago. Hope to see you again soon.
I’m so glad we finally met! Hope we get to catch up again soon!